PokerStars, HUDs And Tracking Software
April 17, 2012 2:36 pmPokerStars allows a whole range of tools and Heads-Up-Displays to be used while playing on the site, including Hold’em Manager (right), Holdem Indicator, and PokerTracker.
In fact, around 100 pieces of software which can give a player an advantage over their competitors are deemed acceptable tools and services by PokerStars, with any others not on the list possibly permissible pending a review by the site.
However, PokerStars stipulates that any information gathered through the use of software tools should be accumulated through your own play, thus making the use of software like Poker Edge, or data mining site like HighStakesDB or Poker Table Ratings (PTR) against their terms of service.
Now it seems PokerStars’ battle against PTR has reached a new level after the poker room has instigated legal action against the popular data mining site with a “Cease and Desist” letter. As PokerStars’ Head of Home Games Lee Jones explains:
“We have told them that they must immediately cease infringing our intellectual property rights and breaching the terms and conditions of our software. This is not an idle threat; we’ve assembled a team of lawyers in multiple jurisdictions to follow up.”
Poker Table Ratings provides in depth stats and profiling of players, much like the allowed PokerStars software PokerTracker or Hold’em Manager. However, PTR boasts that it “tracks almost every hand of online poker,” which it then provides in a limited form for free to visitors, or for a premium including selling hand histories to players in million-hand bulk bundles.
Commenting further on the latest action to be taken by PokerStars, Lee Jones said:
“Obviously some of you are frustrated at how long it’s taken us to act but the people behind PTR have taken considerable steps to hide their activity and shield themselves from action. But we are on their trail now and will keep at it. We’ll keep you informed as we make progress.”